The journey to the Huo Clan was conducted in a heavy, suffocating silence.
City Lord Tan Ming walked a half-step ahead, acting more like a panicked servant than a regional power.
As they reached the massive vermillion gates of the Huo estate, the guards straightened their backs, their eyes widening at the sight of the City Lord—and bulging at the sight of the two figures behind him.
"Greetings, City Lord Tan! We shall inform the Patriarch immediately of your—"
"No need for such formalities," Tan Ming interrupted, his voice tight. "I will escort these esteemed guests to the meeting hall myself. Step aside."
The guards didn't dare breathe as the trio swept past and immediately headed straight to the main hall.
Shen Haoran narrowed his eyes. With his senses, he can feel that the strongest person in this estate is merely at 8th stage Core Formation.
'The Huo Clan has truly fallen.' he thought, lamenting at the once prosperous clan.
Before leaving, he had actually read the history of Huo Clan to learn more about them, and what he found was truly amazing.
During the previous epoch, they were once a Transcendent level force that had produced a Supreme Emperor, with power and influence almost rivaling the Shen Clan.
Unfortunately, during the beginning of the current epoch, the patriarch of the Huo Clan burned out the declining bloodline power of the Huo Clan in hopes that using the power of their bloodline, he can break through from Supreme Emperor realm and reached Immortality.
And, as expected, he failed.
He suffered from severe drawbacks that drained his lifespan and eventually succumbed to his injuries.
After that, with the power of their bloodline gone, they rapidly declined and was reduced to this state, where they don't even have a Golden Core expert.
At this moment, inside the main hall of the Huo Clan, the atmosphere was thick with tension, voices rose in a heated, ugly debate.
"Huo Zhang, you must face reality!" an elder's voice boomed. "Yue'er has failed the test again. The resources we waste on her could nurture three geniuses for the Inner Sect! If she doesn't step down as heiress, the other clans will devour us!"
Huo Zhang, a man with fiery red hair streaked with the white surely due stress, slammed his fist on the table. "She is my daughter! No matter what, I will not allow her position to be revoked until her coming of age ceremony—"
Suddenly, the doors creaked open, and the argument died instantly as if a blade had cut the air.
"Who dare interrupt— city lord!?"
Huo Zhang stood up, his eyes darting from Tan Ming in shocked, then to the two strangers.
His gaze lingered on Qing'er, his heart hammering against his ribs—he couldn't see through her cultivation, which meant she was at a level he couldn't even fathom.
Then, his eyes landed on the young man in the center...and just like the woman, he also couldn't see through his cultivation.
Is this ...some genius of some powerful sect?
After awhile, he turned his gaze back to the city lord and walked towards him.
"City Lord Tan, greetings." Huo Zhang began, his voice wary. "And these... honored guests are?"
Shen Haoran took a measured step forward, jis movements were fluid, possessing a grace that made the surrounding elders look like clumsy peasants.
"Are you the father of Huo Yue?" Haoran asked, his voice calm.
Huo Zhang blinked, confused by the directness. "I am Huo Zhang, Patriarch of this clan, and indeed, I am her father. May I ask why you seek her? My daughter is... she has been unfortunate. Her cultivation is crippled. I fear she cannot be of any assistance to someone of your standing."
Shen Haoran's lips curled into a gentle, peaceful smile, one that didn't quite reach the cold depth of his eyes.
"Greetings, Uncle," Haoran said, performing a polite, yet shallow cupped-fist salute. "I am Shen Haoran, of the Shen Clan from the Central Region. I have traveled a long way to fulfill a vow. I am the fiancé of your daughter, Huo Yue."
The sound of a tea cup shattering hit the floor.
Tan Ming's jaw dropped, and the elders stared as if they had just seen a ghost.
The "trash" heiress of their backwater city was engaged to a dragon from the Central Region? Or rather, that person still acknowledged the engagement?
One should know, that engagement was made before their generation, and the other party was from the central region!
They have completely forgot about this engagement...and now they came here!?
No, wait, could it be...
The elders stared at each other, their eyes showing the look as if they found something disturbing and humiliating.
Even Huo Zhang's face turned dark as he thought of a possibility.
These two...they didn't come to humiliate them and break the engagement right?
Breaking the engagement is fine...but what they couldn't tolerate is being humiliated and have their dignity trampled upon.
Huo Zhang took a deep breath and stared at the youth.
He hoped they won't embarrassed clan.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the estate, Huo Yue sat atop a jagged boulder, her eyes fixed on the horizon, feeling relief as the weight that had crushed her chest for three years had finally lifted.
'Let them whisper,' she thought, a cold smirk touching her lips. 'Let them insult me. Soon, they won't even be worthy of looking at my shadow.'
"Teacher Liu," she called out softly.
Fairy Liu shimmered into existence, her silver hair flowing in an ethereal wind. "You seem impatient, little disciple."
"I have wasted three years," Huo Yue replied. "I need to know, do you have a cultivation technique that can make up for the lost time?"
Cultivation Techniques.
This is the most important thing for a Cultivator as once they reached the peak of Body Refining realm, they would need a cultivation technique to absorb Qi and step into the ranks of Qi Gathering stage.
These cultivation techniques are divided into four grades; Spirit Grade as the lowest, then Earth Grade, Heavenly Grade, Supreme Grade as the strongest.
Each grades are further divided into Low tier, Mid Tier, High Tier, and Grand Tier.
The higher the quality of your Cultivation Technique, the easier and much faster it is to absorb Qi. Not to mention those with higher quality Cultivation Techniques would have a much purer, denser, and more abundant reserve of Qi compared to those with lower quality.
Of course, the higher the grade of Cultivation Techniques, the harder it is to cultivate, and some would even suffer Qu Deviation and could explode.
So it is recommended to actually start with a much lower quality technique and slowly change to a higher quality once they get stronger.
For those at Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, and Core formation, a cultivation technique at Spirit Grade is generally the best fit.
"Indeed, I have some that is most suitable for you, my disciple." Fairy Liu raised her left hand, and a scroll glowing with a soft, ochre light appeared. "This is a Grand Tier Spirit Grade technique. In this backwater place, it can be called a national treasure."
Huo Yue's heart skipped a beat.
Grand Tier Spirit Grade! Her clan's best technique was barely a Grand Tier Spirit Grade!
Even before she lost her talent, the Cultivation Technique she practiced was only a Mid-Tier Spirit Grade!
Then, Fairy Liu raised her right hand, and a tattered, blackened book appeared, flickering with a faint, dangerous crimson spark. "And this... I found this in an ancient ruin. It is called the Imperial Flame Transformation. It is technically only a Low Tier Spirit Grade."
Huo Yue stared at the blackened book, her excitement cooling into skepticism. "For such a domineering name, it has such a pathetic grade? Why even show it to me, Teacher? The Grand Tier is clearly superior."
Fairy Liu let out a mysterious chuckle, her blue eyes gleaming with ancient knowledge.
"Is it? Most cultivators see only the surface. Tell me, girl, have you ever heard of a technique that 'evolves'?"